Fix Your Team

Chapter 23 BUCKLE UP! LOOK AFTER YOURSELF

Congratulations! You have taken the high road and decided to do the work needed to Fix Your Team. You will need to summon all your powers of professionalism, objectivity, composure and emotional intelligence to complete this important work.

There may well be emotional costs for you along the way. It is important that you are prepared to apply to yourself the same level of care you are about to apply to your team. When dealing with complaints, conflict and extreme emotion of others, you may be exposed to anger, suspicion, rudeness and other negative treatment. You may witness people expressing great sadness or anger. There may be challenges to your role, competence and authority; people may even deliberately manipulate facts and redirect accusations at you.

Addressing entrenched issues of dysfunction is potentially stressful for everyone concerned, and with stress comes poor behaviour. Accept that things may get worse before they get better! If addressed appropriately, using the Fix Your Team Toolkit, the poor behaviour will end and an improved regime of civility and team renewal will follow.

Here are four strategies that you can use to remain effective as you Fix Your Team, especially when you feel under pressure.

1. REFLECT ON YOUR EMOTIONAL STATE

Processes aimed at addressing dysfunction, conflict and complaints are very focused on the rights, experiences and input of the employees involved. Be sure to consider your own emotional response ...